[Tokusatsu Themes, Corruption]
"Aaaaah! It's hopeless! There's no way that he's going to look at me!"
A distraught and frustrated voice echoed out through a young gal's room as she tossed another paper into her bin, letting her face smash against her table and add another small crack in the otherwise sturdy wood. She had gone through this process every night for the last few months, ever since she met her beautiful and modest and honestly adorable Senpai. Ever since the day he helped her, she had been dreaming about him every single day.
And those dreams were the reason why she was currently screaming in frustration. Because as much as she knew she had an intense crush on him, she also knew that he wouldn't look at her. She was his Kouhai. She was a proverbial nobody! And even though she wanted to try and impress him with her skills, the drawing skills that she had honed for at least three years at this point... Every time she tried to draw something like him, she eventually felt the doubt creeping into her heart and it prompted her to throw out a perfectly functional sketch and start over from scratch, or just flop right into bed if she couldn't take it.
The girl's name was Momiji Atsuhi. Currently dressed in her uniform, which had no sleeves due to the fact that she needed to expose more of her body so she didn't burn herself from the inside out. Combine that with the fiery tips of her two red twintails, and the fires in her eyes, and it wasn't hard to tell that she was a Monster by birth. An Ignis, a fire-type elemental who was driven by emotions.
It was because of this hot heart of hers that she couldn't control herself. Once she fell for her Senpai, she couldn't pull him from her mind. It left her in a state of repeating everything all over again because she just didn't know what she could do to fix it. How could she get through to him? How could she feel satisfied with her work? And what would he think once she finally confessed..?
"My my. Young love really is so precious. You think you won't reach him?"
Momiji's eyes widened in abject shock as she heard a mature voice echo out through her room, only for her to notice a very tiny red bat at her windowsill. A red bat who bowed once she laid her eyes on her. She had heard about this phenomenon, if only because the rumors had been spreading like wildfire around the school.
"Y-You're... You're one of those creeps who try to spread those Jõtai thingies, aren't you?!" The fire-hearted girl said as her hair quickly lit up, flames brewing in her hands. "Y-You won't be able to turn me! I don't want to turn into one of those baddies!" She cried out, her heart pounding against her chest as she tried to act defiant.
The red bat chuckled for a moment before it suddenly shifted to the size of a full adult human, with its visage shifting in the process to reveal the Baroness of Golden Freedom. Bat. "I don't plan on turning you, Momiji Atsuhi. No, I'm merely here to offer a choice. And then I'll take my leave, as if nothing had ever happened."
"L-Liar! You're probably going to force something on me and I'm gonna turn into goop or something! Or I'll end up like the guys in the remedial class who all had something wrong with them!" Momiji cried out as those flames in her hands turned blue from the sheer heat pouring from her emotions.
Bat shook her head as she carefully reached into her chest, the act of which caused Momiji to avert her eyes and accidently turn off her flames in the process, which also prompted a giggle from the older woman. "I told you. I won't be causing your transformation. If you choose to transform, that's entirely up to you."
Once Momiji looked back at her, the ring had found its way onto her desk, with Bat winking from her place on the windowsill. "E-Eh!? H-How'd you put it here when you were over there!? Explain! Now!"
Bat just winked as she started to turn into a swarm of bats as quickly as she had arrived. "I, Baroness Bat of Golden Freedom, offer you a choice. Use the Jõtai to your heart's content and fulfill your wish... Or do with it as you choose. This is the Golden Freedom that I bestow upon you. Whatever comes next is entirely up to you."
"Wait!" Momiji cried out as her flames turned on again, but by the time she tried to throw them right at the window to stop her from escaping, the woman made of bats had disappeared into the night. Leaving her with a flame that vanished as quickly as it had appeared, and a girl with a choice.
Using that ring... It was risky. Way too risky. But she had to admit that it was tempting. If she wanted to get close to her Senpai without gaining confidence in her drawings, she would... Well, she'd have to use it. But she really didn't have a wish beyond getting close to him. So could she use it..?
She picked up the golden ring and slowly looked at it. Her eyes very briefly turned gold as the color of the ring reflected off them. She could feel her heart pining for the power of the ring. But... But if she disappointed her Senpai, she couldn't live with herself. So if she put it on, she had to make sure she didn't mess up.
Momiji took a deep breath... Before carefully putting the ring on her ring finger. Trembling as it sank down on the digit, resting against the base... And then...
Nothing? Momiji blinked a couple of times as she looked down at the ring. Was it busted? Come on, she wanted it to work if she had to go through all this trouble-
The ring flashed, and a moan echoed into the night...
---
"Alpha Edge!"
The air froze solid as the visage of Mimoto disappeared from the battlefield, all while her target remained perfectly still. Not just because of how time had slowed to the point where moving was practically impossible, but because she remained on guard.
Mimoto's opponent opened her eyes as she suddenly slammed her elbow to the left, landing a devastating blow despite the slowed time. She had already predicted the girls' movements ahead of time and started moving right as time started slowing. By the time everything caught up with the extra speedy heroine, her stomach had been struck. And despite the slower nature of the blow, the momentum and power was still the same. Causing her to get flung towards one of the walls...
"Remember, Mikai!" Her opponent, Atlas Corp Saint Genbu, shouted while crossing her arms as the flow of time returned to normal. "Your ability to freeze time is strong, but your opponent can read your movements. Even if you may be moving beyond what their eye can comprehend, their mind registers! If you do not mix up your approach, you'll end up on the receiving end of another counter.
Mimoto trembled a bit as she pulled herself out of the crater she had left in the wall after that blow. With a deep breath and a nod, she made sure to mentally note down that mistake, all while her icy armor cracked and was replaced by the rocky and durable Earth Ursa form. "Thanks, Miss Genbu! It really hurts, but it's good practice!" She shouted, slamming her fists together as she walked towards her for another round.
All of this was part of a routine training exercise. Something that Genbu had mandated that both Mikai and Hiro take part in, due to the escalating nature of the current threats. The attack on Mikai's home and the subsequent tag team she had to face, as well as the recent addition of the new Golden Freedom-aligned Jõtaider, meant that she had to keep on her toes and actually train to make sure she could catch her opponents off guard.
While Mikai was happy to brawl against the much stronger and thoroughly experienced Genbu, Hiro was currently sitting on the bench. Hand wrapped in bandages, even as the ruby hue bled through and illuminated the area around her. She was in no condition to train, even after a week.
"She's improving very quickly. You weren't kidding when you said she had a knack for adapting on the fly, Hiro." Standing at her side was her coworker and handler, Qilin, who couldn't help but whistle a bit as she watched the fight happening in front of her. Two powerful opponents locked in near-mortal combat, all for the sake of improving each other. "And you're on the sidelines. Aren't you a little upset you're not giving her a hand?"
Hiro rolled her eyes as she carefully rubbed that hand of hers. "Both Doctor Charlotta and Seiryu requested that I don't overexert myself while I was recovering from the Jõtai contamination that came with being exposed to Succession. It's a wonder my hand is the only thing showing traces of that experience." She muttered and clenched her hand, gritting her teeth a bit as she felt the sensation trying to spread through her... But the drugs currently running through her system served to counter the lingering willpower from that malicious limb. At least for the time being.
"I see, I see. So you'd rather remain on the sidelines to avoid causing problems. Well, it's a shame I don't get to see you in action, but I wouldn't want to go against the doctor's orders." Qilin said as she let out a bit of a sigh, giggling a little as her mind started drifting. "Well, at least I got to see you in that handsome costume."
"Indeed. She was rather dashing in it, wasn't she?" Just as Qilin mentioned one of her creations, a single feather drifted in and erupted, only for Suzaku to step out from those flames. A rather dramatic entrance despite no need for such flair. "She had once asked for the costume for some sort of cosplay, though she never bothered fetching it for its intended purpose. I was just about to seal it away for the next few weeks when she came rushing to my office, and changed right in front of me. What a delightful look..."
Hiro remained quiet as she was now being teased from two directions. In fact, Suzaku had specifically decided to make her appearance just to tease her. Those two knew that she wasn't too thrilled by their antics, and yet... Ah, why couldn't she have just stayed in bed?
"Come on, Hiro, why don't you come to my office and try out a couple more outfits? It's been a while since you've ordered one, you'd look beautiful once you're all prettied up."
"And I'll make sure to snap as many pictures of your different selves as possible, Hiro. I'm sure that Mikai would love to see them all after she's come home from another Jõtaijin suppression mission, ahahaha!"
Hiro's expression went blank as she tried to block those two out while focusing on the fight in front of her. The only thing that could give her peace right now was Mikai. Even if focusing on Mikai was making her hand throb. She just had to ignore it and watch...
"Here I come, Miss Genbu!" Mimoto shouted from her depths as she started grinding the claws of her much larger fists against the floor, all while Genbu remained perfectly still and ready for her attacks.
Genbu grinned as the girl started to vary up her attacks ever so slightly. But if she was going to inflict any damage, she would have to do better than that, as muscles started to bulge along the length of her arm. Thrusting forward to meet her proverbial pupil's attack right as it was thrown out.
Sparks flew between the combatants, as both the battleground and the sidelines grew intense in their own way...
---
The rays of the sun slowly shone down as a small group of girls enjoyed the afternoon view, all four of them sitting close to the river snaking its way around Mimoto. A peaceful respite despite everything that had been happening recently...
Yuuki Shimo. Saeko Suikumo. Saki Himitsu. And Minami Kazumi. All four quietly enjoying the wind blowing past them...
"I really am glad you're all okay." Saeko broke the silence as a small tear ran down her cheek, her glasses fogging up. "I-It was one thing to see Saki-Senpai shut me inside my own home to try and keep me safe from the Pawns, but I was really worried. Yuuki-Senpai might be strong, but that was a real horde. And Minami... I-I'm sorry I couldn't help more."
As the most sensitive of the four girls started sobbing ever so slightly, Yuuki laughed and gave her a hug from the side, squeezing her tight. "You don't need to feel bad about what you couldn't do, Saeko! All you have to do is be proud of what you did. I'm certain that Saki and Minami don't mind! Isn't that right?"
"Of course." Saki softly smiled as she patted her Kouhai and fellow student council member on the back. "You need to stop worrying about what you couldn't do. Focus on what you did. That's what matters, Saeko." She said, as supportive as she could be for somebody so close to her heart.
Minami, the white-haired girl that Saeko was in charge of keeping tabs on, slowly nodded as well. "Suikumo. If you hadn't tried your best back then, I would've been in even more danger. I'm always grateful for your help, no matter what." She said, chuckling softly as she looked towards the scenery in front of her. "This takes me back, actually... Back before I was stuck in this wheelchair... My Mother always took me out here. And she told me that one day, I would be as beautiful as all of this... But..."
Saeko looked down at the river, the particular angle preventing her from seeing her own reflection. And she felt her heart sink. Why did Minami have to be the one suffering..? It wasn't fair...
Saki shot a glance both towards her suffering Kouhai, as well as the girl she had to care for. If she had just become stronger before all of this, she could've kept them both safe. But instead, she was now stuck trying to solve the issue of Mimoto and PAWN being inadequate. They were both so fragile, not knowing what it truly meant to protect...
One way or another, she would seize victory. And then she would help both Saeko and Minami. For the sake of their happiness. For the sake of hearing them validate her decision...
---
"Ahahaha, so that's what you've been doing instead of studying, Sato-chan? You were watching things all weekend? Come on, you know that's not going to help you!"
"You're not much better yourself, Hokori. As far as I've heard, you were busy indulging yourself as a Pawn! Have you no shame?!"
"Oh, pipe down, Akaijin-chan! You're just jealous because you never got your Pawn Syndrome checked and have to keep dealing with those urges, instead of indulging in them and just letting the experience overwhelm you. Ehehehehe."
"P-Please don't fight. I-I asked for you both to help me out with studying, b-but that didn't mean you had to get all upset..."
An unlikely trio were currently walking down the halls of Mimoto Highschool. Tsubasa Sato, Yua Hokori and Kokoro Akaijin. A boy with too many lewd thoughts that could distract him at a moment's notice, a girl who wholeheartedly avoided the responsibility of getting her Pawn Syndrome looked at because she enjoyed the sensations of serving people, and the Valedictorian who had been burying herself in studying to make sure that she could suppress it. The treatment took too long, she would suppress it without any repercussions!
"She's the one who's not behaving, Sato. Don't you start trying to defend her." Kokoro spoke with a cold tone despite her body looking so warm. The crimson hues of her hair were as warm as a fireplace, while her uniform was decorated with a few red trimmings to make her stand out amongst her peers. She definitely had an inflated sense of herself, otherwise she wouldn't need to look this different.
Tsubasa felt the words trying to leave his throat, but they just couldn't. Not while she was exerting so much pressure on him. "I-I-" He muttered, his glasses fogging up thanks to his indecisive nature...
"He doesn't need to defend me, Akaijin-chan. He's just doing his best. Even if he's watching shows all night!" Yua cried out, squeezing the boy tightly. "But you know, he'd be really cute as a Pawn too. Squeezed into that nice latex suit, dome forming around his head... Ah, I can't wait to see what Jõtaijin'll show up next time..." The extra horny submissive giggled, her words trying to force their way into the boy's head to lure him down the same despicable road that she had.
As the two girls fought amongst themselves while using him as a proverbial bridge to fight across, Tsubasa's eyes just spun while hidden behind those glasses. He didn't know if this was the kind of experience that Mikai had to deal with, much less the other members of the Outreach Unit, but if it was something that he had to learn... Then he wasn't sure if he was ever going to end up the kind of hero that he looked up to. Could he get close to being as strong or as reliable as Mikai... Or Hiro, for that matter? She felt even further out of his reach...
"Get your hands off my Senpai!"
The sharp sound of a loud shout echoed through the halls as all three turned their heads forward, as their gazes fell upon a girl with bright red twin-tails clad in a leotard that left very little to the imagination. Both because she was flat and because it really did nothing to cover up her body. But what it lacked in coverage was made up with several sharp looking blades adorning her form. Whether it was a set of bladed shoulders, a set of segmented blades wrapped around her arms that ended in a set of stinger-like blades at her fingertips, or a sharp looking set of edges attached to her legs that would enhance any kick. Combine all of that with a mono-eyed visor that was tipped with two wing-shaped flames, and she... Well, she didn't exactly seem familiar, but she was definitely identifiable as some sort of Jõtaijin. Only a Jõtaijin would use this kind of tacky look.
"Senpai?" Yua blinked as she looked at Kokoro. "Is she one of yours, Akaijin? I didn't know you had somebody who looked up to you like that. You're a valedictorian and everything, but you're kinda-"
"Not mine." Kokoro was quick to deflect, as her eyes then fell upon Tsubasa who was the only one currently sweating. "It seems as if this girl is... Really now, Sato, you have a Kouhai that looks up to you? And you consider your behavior reasonable when you end up wasting all your time watching nonsense?"
Tsubasa didn't really listen to either of them as much as he felt his heart sinking. This was the worst possible situation he could find himself in. The girl standing in front of them was Momiji Atsuhi. A burning girl who pined for him and had burned him at least twice in the pursuit of her own love. In fact, he wasn't sure she remembered the times that she had burned him. That emotional core of hers was unstable, and it was tied directly to her ability as a Monster. Now that she was turned into a Jõtaijin, this had only gotten worse...
"M-Momiji, please don't do anything drastic!" Still, he did the only thing he could do. Appeal to her and hope that his emotions would reach her... Before they were consumed by the flames that fueled her emotional instability.
The visor-clad Jõtaijin shook her head. "It's not Momiji, Senpai! It's Habakiri!" She cried out as the single eye in her visor started to flare up with heat. "And I'll save you from those two! I won't let them bully you any longer!" Habakiri shouted as a set of mechanical hands ejected from her back, the hands shooting straight towards the two girls.
Yua giggled as she watched that hand come straight towards her, letting go of Tsubasa as she eagerly tossed herself towards it. "Take me, Habakiri-sama!" Like the submissive and eager Pawn that she was at heart, still wearing her latex suit at all times at that, she willingly let the hand grab her and force a moan from her lips in the process.
Kokoro grit her teeth as she let go of Tsubasa, though as much as she wanted to try and run away, her body refused. her Pawn Syndrome was acting up, causing her body to be covered in the same latex material that covered Yua. "N-Not now..! I don't want to be a minion!" She cried out, only to moan as well as she was yanked away from the boy just as Yua had been, her body trembling as a moan left her lips...
Tsubasa trembled as he watched the two girls get pulled towards Habakiri, as their forms were compressed thanks to the flames rushing off the Jõtaijin's form. Their bodies smoothing out as they grew sharper and sharper, until there was nothing left but a pair of matching swords. One green, one red. Both having a sensualized imprint of their respective girl on the side of the blades, both dropping to the ground to allow for the visored Jõtaijin to pick them up and grinding the bladed edges against one another.
"There! Bullies gone! Now it's just you and me, Senpai!" Habakiri grinned as her visor popped up, revealing her golden eyes as she ran towards her. Not with any real malice in her step, just a quick pep and eagerness to be with the one she loved.
A little stare was all that Tsubasa could muster. The sight of his classmates turned into blades was too much for him. The sight of his Kouhai eagerly turning them into weapons was too much. All that he could do now was high-tail it out of there, running down the hall as sweat dripped down his face. He just had to run and hope that somebody would come save him.
Habakiri blinked for a few seconds as she watched her Senpai run off. Only to realize what had happened as her eyes caught on fire and her visor lowered. "Hey! I didn't say you could run, Senpai! GET BACK HERE!" She shouted as her body started levitating thanks to her own heat, the blades on her feet grinding against the ground as she started flying straight towards him. All while dragging those blades along the floor, which just served to slow her down rather than get her there faster. She never claimed to be clever, even after her transformation.
As the proverbial goose chase began, a set of cute pink eyes peeked out from one of the classrooms they ran by, with the muddy-haired owner giggling in response. "Well well, isn't that cute? What a shame that I have to put a stop to it." Kimiko chimed to herself as she pulled her phone out of her pocket and started calling her friend...
An event like this was fun and all, but she couldn't have Mikai being distracted by something as silly as young love. She had to put an end to it quickly, so she could be ready whenever a real threat popped up.
---
Mikai let out a loud and pained cry as she laid down on the floor, her body aching after everything she had just been through. Fighting Genbu was... An ordeal. Saying anything else would be an understatement beyond compare.
"How in the world does she just see through every single one of our blows?" Chimera muttered, having materialized right besides the girl. A lot of the damage she had suffered was also clearly visible on the mental predator, though she was a little less bothered by it thanks to her build. "Really isn't fair, you know?"
"Mmhm. But she's gotta play dirty. Otherwise we won't get stronger." Mikai said and nodded as she slowly sat up, grinning as she gave her inner companion a thumbs up. "You up for another round, Chimera? I think I might have just enough juice in the tank!"
Chimera sat up as well, stretching her wings a bit as she shook all over, the damage pouring off her form and leaving her pristine and clean once more. "One more. And then we get dinner." She said, getting back on her feet at the same time as Mikai.
The young heroine's awareness of the world around her returned, right as Genbu let out a bit of a yawn and cracked her knuckles. "Not satisfied yet, Mikai? Then come on. Give me one last shot. Strongest you've got, let nothing hold you back! I won't deflect this one!"
Mimoto grinned underneath her helmet as the armor she had previously used, Blast Eagle, started to crack with light flowing through those cracks. "I'll give you everything, Miss Genbu! Chou Henshin!" She shouted as she slashed her hand forward, letting the light burst open her armor and reveal Light Unicorn once more, her Unicorn Blade appearing right as she tightened her grip.
She ran one hand along the blade as the light charged within, her focus growing stronger and stronger. If she was going to take down the Saint, then she needed everything in her power. She needed-
"Mikai! There's a call for you!"
And there went all of her concentration as the light vanished off her form, leaving Mikai to very nearly fall onto the ground thanks to all the damage that had built up throughout her spar. Welp, guess she had to try and beat Genbu another day.
"Haha. Well then, I'll be ready for our next session when you feel ready, Mikai. Until then, duty calls." Genbu said, walking over to pat Mikai on the head and then taking her leave. She didn't seem to have gotten winded in the slightest, despite fighting off the girl with everything she had. That was the barrier that Mikai had to climb over...
Mikai pouted a bit as she started walking off towards the sidelines, where Qilin and Hiro were still busy being close partners. Which meant that Hiro was blushing while Qilin held up the ringing phone. She had to ask them about how long they had been like this, because it was actually kinda nagging at the back of her mind at this point.
Once Mikai got close enough that she could safely lob it to her, Qilin tossed the phone to the young heroine and stretched a bit herself. "Seems like our little lady's got her hands full. Whether it's with training or with Jõtaijin. You sure you don't want to help her out?" Qilin asked while looking down at her good skunk-haired friend.
Hiro shook her head. "She can handle herself. As much as our relationship works on trust, I don't wish to get in her way and have to rely on her trust. I'll just put my trust in her for the time being. Until this hand is back to normal." She said, looking back down at her bandaged hand. She really hoped that the fact it was still persisting after a week wasn't foreboding. If she was hospitalized for longer... Or if it was going to act up during one of her excursions... Then she wasn't sure if she was going to be able to perform to the point where she could trust Mikai to handle her should she go out of control.
Qilin nodded softly, though still sighing. She just loved seeing her friend in action. As much as she hated her presence, she couldn't help it. There was just something about seeing Hiro work that made her so enthralled...
"Oh, hey Kimiko! What's up?" Mikai said as she picked up, blinking a few times as she listened. "What? Tsubasa's being chased by a Jõtaijin? Alright, I'll be on my way! Can you try and make sure he doesn't get turned into a Pawn-" She tried to ask for a favor, then the call died. "Oh. Crud." She muttered, pocketing the phone before waving to both the black suited and the white suited ladies. "Gotta go, there's a Jõtaijin at the school!"
A simple click from a remote that Qilin held close by was all that it took for the wall behind them to open, giving the girl a way to quickly get out of the Atlas Corp building. "Take care, Mikai. And, if you'd be a dear, please bring the Jõtaijin straight here after you're done? There's something I'd like to investigate."
Mikai nodded and quickly transformed back into Blast Eagle as she spread her wings and leapt right over both of the ladies, letting her wings take her down towards the streets below so she could make it to her school in time!
"...What do you need the Jõtaijin for, Qilin? As far as I know, Doctor Charlotta has first priority regarding the examination of Jõtaijin." Hiro asked, her eyebrow slowly raising.
Qilin smiled softly. "Oh, there's just something I'd like to find out." She said, as she brought up a little holographic map of the city for Hiro's convenience. "You see... We had detected some energy out near the outskirts, where the river's running through... But that energy couldn't have gotten all the way to the school in that time. So either we're being scammed by somebody, or..."
Hiro didn't like what she was implying. But even if she wanted to intervene and find out, she wasn't in any condition to. She just had to hope that Mikai finished up quickly...
---
"Senpaaaai! Stop! Running!"
Habakiri's words echoed out through the halls of Mimoto Highschool as she chased down the boy she adored. She didn't want him to keep running, but she had to keep sliding towards him to get caught up. All while her blades dragged along the ground, the big ones now accompanied by several smaller ones that all hovered behind. They were no doubt also fellow students that had been converted, each of them having an alluring female figure printed on them.
Tsubasa didn't listen to his young Kouhai. He wouldn't stop running. There was no way that he was going to get caught by her. Not when he was in mortal peril if she caught up to him. She was probably going to convert him into a blade or something worse than that. C-Corrupt him into her lov... N-No, no, bad, don't have horny thoughts now of all times..!
"W-Why do you want me!? I-I'm not worth it!" He had to play to his very few strengths at the moment, as he quickly spun round a corner, recklessly grabbing the corner itself as he spun to help his turn speed despite the damage that it did to his arm.
Habakiri dashed right past the corner that her Senpai turned, smashing through a wall. Upon backing up and realizing what she had just done, she finally dropped her blades and let them fly right by her side. "YOU ARE WORTH IT, SENPAI! YOU HELPED ME, AND THAT'S WHY I WANT YOU!" She shouted as she dramatically sped up, quickly catching up to the boy she craved.
"I just helped you with a few problems, t-that's no reason to crave me! W-What do you think I am?!" Tsubasa cried out as he suddenly turned the wrong corner, causing him to end up in a dead end. And as he turned around, he quickly realized that she had managed to catch up.
Habakiri's visor popped up as a few tears ran down her cheeks. "You're a good person! A-And I'm the bad one because I used a Jõtai to get close to you! That's what you are, that's what I am!" She cried out as she raised her hand, causing all of those blades that she had made to circle around her, each of them aimed at the wall behind the boy. "So just stay still and let me love you and then we can get past our problems together! OKAY!?" She shouted as those tears turned to flames, right as she shot the blades forward...
Tsubasa closed his eyes as he held up his arms to protect himself, only for nothing to happen. He wasn't hurt..? B-But there were blades headed straight for him. H-How didn't he..?
As he opened his eyes and lowered his arms, he saw a green figure standing in front of him, whose wings were currently being regenerated after several dozen feathers had been fired from them. Mimoto was there to protect him. Just like PAWN had protected him in the past. Which simultaneously made his heart sink while relief washed over him.
"Just in time..!" Mimoto cried out as she flapped her wings, a bit of rubble still covering her after she had to burst through the wall from the outside. "You! Jõtaijin! Hands off my friend!" She declared, pointing right towards the twin-tailed Jõtaijin that had been weaponizing her Pawns.
Habakiri blinked a few times as she looked at Mimoto. "Mimoto... Mikai Fushimi!" She cried out. All while different tears started to pour down her cheeks. "I can't believe it, you're actually here! W-Well, o-of course you'd be here, I'm kinda putting my Senpai in a bad spot, but you're actually here! Oh my gosh!" The visor slid down as she tried to hide her expression ever slightly, but the massive blush on her cheeks made it hard for her to hide anything away.
Mimoto blinked underneath her helmet. Before the winds swirled around her and dismissed her armor entirely, letting Mikai stand on her own. "Uhm, yeah, that's me." She said, a bit of sweat dripping down the side of her head. "If you know who I am, could you turn your Pawns back to normal? It doesn't seem like you're that badly affected by your Jõtai, if you can get starstruck like this." This was one of the first times she had seen something like this. Tsubasa didn't have a good answer for any of this either, as looking over her shoulder to gaze at him just revealed his blank and perplexed expression.
"I..." Habakiri paused, before just taking a deep breath. "I'm a First Year student. Momiji Atsuhi, or Habakiri when I'm like this! A-And I have a big crush on Tsubasa-Senpai so when that Bat lady appeared and gave me one of those Jõtai rings I just couldn't help myself and then I turned into a robot-like girl and I couldn't believe it and I just wanted to see him and now that I've gotten real close I really don't know what I have to do!" As soon as she started explaining things, everything just came rushing out from her lips. To the point where her eyes were spinning behind that visor as she just let everything spill out, rapidly dizzying herself.
Mikai slowly let everything process before she took a few steps forward. Before hugging that blade-clad girl... And then backing away a bit and narrowing her eyes as she noticed the subtle cuts. This wasn't going to work. She settled for reaching out her hand instead. "It's okay, Momiji. You... Well, I think you're going to get detention for what you did, but you managed to not succumb to the Jõtai's influence that badly, so I don't think Tsubasa minds that much. Right, Tsubasa?"
Tsubasa slowly pushed his glasses up to try and build up some sort of confidence... Only to deflate as he collapsed against the wall. "I... I'm really not sure. She turned both Yua and Kokoro into Pawns and Swords and she chased after me and... I think I just need a break after all this."
Habakiri looked apologetic as she took Mikai's hand, shaking it softly. "I-I'll make it up to you, Mikai-Senpai! You too, Tsubasa-Senpai! I'm sorry!" She said as she bowed her head down as much as she could.
Mikai just let out a soft chuckle. Things would take time to heal, but... At least she didn't have to go through a big fight this time. It seemed like their relationship would softly mend, and she could get Yua and Kokoro some hel-
Her phone started ringing just as she heard that, prompting her to reach into her pocket and pick up. "Mmm? Yumeko? What's up?"
"Say, Mikai... Have you seen the weather today?"
"The weather?" Mikai asked as she let go of Habakiri's hand, letting the sword-clad girl slowly approach her Senpai while bowing every other step to try and apologize. "It looked fine while I was flying down from the Atlas Corp building. Why? Is there something wrong?"
"Can you see the river from where you're standing right now? It looks like there's something bad happening over there. I tried getting in contact with Yuuki-Senpai, but..."
Mikai blinked a little as she looked out through the hole she had made in the wall, and indeed it seemed like there was a rather large and foreboding cloud hovering over the river. Not just that, but it seemed to be snowing..? "It's... Snowing?"
Just as she spoke, the call was interrupted by her bracelet vibrating. Tsubasa's as well as a hologram depicting Byakko appeared on their wrists.
"To all members of the Jõtaijin Outreach Unit, ESPECIALLY MIKAI, exercise extreme caution!" She shouted, as a map of the city popped up in front of them depicting the river area. It was covered in a big black spot, compared to the reds or golds used for Jõtai energy. "Our scanners have detected something at the Mimoto River. Something that we still need to properly analyze. But there's a good chance that-"
Even that transmission was cut off, leaving Mikai to narrow her eyes a bit. Right, something bad was happening. And it was going to be up to her to stop it. Hiro was still recovering, after all...
Habakiri looked at both of her Senpais, nearly blown back as a gust of wind blew out from Mikai as she turned back into Mimoto Blast Eagle. And though she felt regret from what she had done, she had to do something. Something to make up for the fact that she had been bad. Then she had an idea. It was a bad idea, but it was an idea. "Senpai! Use me!"
Tsubasa blinked, with Mimoto not really reacting as Habakiri was consumed by flames. Flames that compressed her into a much more compact form, just as what had happened to the Pawns that she had made. The blades on her form, as well as the Pawns that had turned into blades prior, all merged together as she compressed...
Until the flaming Habakiri flew into his hands, now taking the proper form of a blade. A lithe yet heavy blade that almost immediately made him fall over. "W-Wha? Whaaaaaat!? I-I can't use you, I can barely even lift you!" He cried out, his eyes spinning behind his glasses.
"You have to! We gotta help Mikai-Senpai! You want to be a hero, right!? That's what you always keep muttering about when I try to look at you from afar!" Habakiri's voice beamed into his head as he wielded her, her elegant and lithe form having her twin-tailed self printed on the side. "So you better help! I don't know what's gone wrong, but Mikai-Senpai's going to get into big trouble if we don't!"
Mimoto looked over at Tsubasa, and reached out. Her wings spread, ready to carry him along. Even if he was heavy, she was willing to give him a hand.
Tsubasa looked at his armored friend, and used all of the strength in his body to lift up that blade. He didn't need to say anything, just the look of trust in his friend's eyes... Well, her helmet, was all that he needed. Even though it was heavy, he'd... He'd try, at least!
He grabbed Mimoto's hand... And off they went, into the distance.
---
Hiro looked out through the windows at the storm brewing in the outskirts of the city. And she clenched her fist, knowing that she couldn't help.
"Go."
The black-and-white haired woman looked to her white-haired coworker, who had a briefcase in her hand. When did she... No, that didn't matter. The look on her face was too serious. She didn't have time to argue with her.
"Is it what I think it is?" Hiro asked, tapping a little on the PAWN System on her wrist as she started to boot every part of the system in preparation for what was about to go down.
Qilin nodded. "Extreme caution, Hiro. This is not the kind of opponent you want to take lightly. If you suffer any damage, I want you in Seiryu's care immediately. Understand?"
Hiro nodded back as she took the briefcase from her coworker, opening it before her eyes briefly widened. All of the parts she needed for her different forms were in here. She had been skimping out on storage... Well then, this was good to know for the future.
Not that she had time to worry about. All that she could do was just click a little more on the PAWN System and then speak the fateful word into its microphone.
"Jouchaku."
---
"The hell is going on!?"
Yuuki shouted as it wasn't just a little bit of snow pouring down. It was a damn blizzard! It was so thick that she could barely even see anything. And she was a half Yukionna, she was supposed to be able to see things!
Saeko shivered as she tried to stick close to Saki, who was trying to shield herself as well. She didn't like any of this. What on Earth was happening!? It was just about to be Winter, yes, but that didn't mean it was time for this kind of weather!
None of this was right. Saki could feel energy that was very similar to Jõtai energy. The same energy she abused to make the rings, as well as what she used to dominate people with her scarab mark. But this was more intense. It was trying to swallow her and the others. Who would dare..!?
Minami... sat quietly in her wheelchair, just looking into the endless abyss in front of her. That endlessly cold abyss... Beckoning her to come closer. She shivered as she looked into the darkness beyond the blizzard, trembling as her breathing intensified. What was this sensation..?
"Where... Where is he..?"
A wispy voice echoed through the winds, one that made Yuuki's eyes widen. That voice was very familiar to her. It was... It was her sister's voice. Where was she? Was she here? Was this all her doing!? How had she accessed such freezing strength!? Even she hadn't been able to call down a blizzard like this!
"Yuuka! YUUKA! IS THAT YOU!?" Yuuki shouted into the void, only for her eyes to suddenly widen as she felt a cold touch against her cheek. Immediately causing her to freeze all over. No, it wasn't just her body. It was more than that. It was... It was her very soul being frozen solid...
Saeko's eyes widened as she saw a girl made entirely out of ice, clad in a traditional yet tattered kimono, quietly caress her Senpai's cheek. There was no mistaking that girl either. That was Yuuki's younger sister, Yuuka Shimo. But most of her features had been wiped away. leaving just a ghost made out of ice... A ghastly menace...
"Where is he..?" Yuuka muttered as she slowly looked towards the other three present, her wispy body wrapped in a void that made it difficult to look at her. "Where is Sato-Senpai..?" She muttered more, as she reached towards them... Mostly the two older students. Not the one who was currently staring into the darkness of her blizzard...
Saki grit her teeth. There was no way that she was going to be able to transform into Kanzei while everyone else was here. Not if she could help it. She didn't want to let them know. Damnit, even now she was powerless. But she could try something...
Squeezing her hand around a ring she kept in her pocket, she dashed towards the ghastly apparition and punched straight at it, causing it to get knocked back as the Jõtai energy allowed her to touch it. At the same time, the blow was strong enough to break her hold over Yuuki, who was just barely conscious thanks to how thoroughly she had been frozen.
"SAEKO!" Saki shouted while running towards the ghastly Monster. "GET MINAMI AND YUUKI AWAY FROM HERE, NOW! I'LL HOLD HER OFF UNTIL HELP ARRIVES!" She gave her an order. Even if she didn't want to rely on Mimoto and PAWN, this might be one of the few times she'd have to..!
Saeko nodded as quickly as she could, rushing over to Yuuki so she could grab her by the waist. "Sorry, Yuuki-Senpai!" She cried out as she lifted her up with relative ease, keeping her held with one arm the best she could while grabbing Minami's wheelchair with the other hand. "Sorry, Minami-chan! We have to do what Saki-Senpai's saying!"
Despite the powerful blizzard raining down around her, Saeko did what she had been told. Wheeling off Minami who seemed out of it, and Yuuki who was barely conscious. Leaving Saki in the darkness that the blizzard blanketed the river in...
"Where... Where is he..?" Yuuka muttered as she slowly started to tremble... "This Frozen Feeling... It craves him..." She muttered, giving her name in the process as she started to fly away...
Only for a staff to barely graze her head, courtesy of the transformed Saki. "I don't know what you are. I don't know what you're after. But you're not one of ours. Therefore you have to perish!" Kanzei cried out as the Darkness gathering in her palm started to intensify...
The moment she tried to strike with that gathered energy, a beam shot right past her. A burning beam filled with Jõtai energy. Causing her to grit her teeth underneath her helmet. Just as she had the opportunity to transform, those blasted Jõtaiders still arrived. PAWN first, however... It would be easy to deal with her.
Hiro grit her teeth a bit as she experienced the recoil from using the BISHOP parts moments after having used the KNIGHT parts for maneuverability. It didn't help that transforming had agitated the corruption in her hand. It was trying to pulse up her body. Trying to convert her back into the Successor of the last Jõtaijin...
Still, she had to put up a fight. This was not one that she could allow to run rampant. "Back off, Kanzei! You don't know what you're dealing with!" Hiro shouted as she spun the dial underneath her gauntlet's guard, causing "SAINT ON - SUZAKU' to echo out as she started charging the Bishop Buster once more.
"I don't listen to your kind, Jõtaider!" Kanzei shouted as she spun her staff, the hammer of her mind echoing out as the entire weapon turned into one long chain with a scythe blade at the end and a weight hanging off the other end. A kusarigama that was going to be more than enough for her in this situation, as she launched the weighted end towards PAWN.
Since Hiro was busy charging, she didn't exactly have a way to properly defend herself, causing that chain to wrap around her throat immediately. She could feel its draining effects as she felt her suit powering down, though she wouldn't go down without a fight. Even though the beam wasn't at its full power..! "Suzaku-Bishop Buster! FIRE!"
A burning beam poured forth from her chest piece right as her armor dissolved, the beam shooting right past Kanzei as it just barely managed to nick her. Not enough to cause damage, unfortunately, but enough to make the golden sheen turn black and charred like her heart. An action that resulted in the villainous Jõtaider tightening her grip on her chain and violently ripping it closer to herself, which served to send Hiro flying in the process.
Instead of catching her out with her blade, however, the ghastly Frozen Feeling let out a howl as the beam had managed to hit her instead. And she caught Hiro while she flew through the air, her frozen expression beaming down on the heroine...
Hiro wanted to struggle, but she couldn't. All she could feel was the chilling cold as it was like her soul itself had been frozen. Despair sinking into her as her body turned pale as chalk, all while she was slowly lowered onto the ground.
Kanzei's inner hammer rang out as her staff returned to normal, wisely backing away as Hiro slowly stood back up, now clad in the same tattered ceremonial garb as the Frozen Feeling. All while her red hand shone brightly before into pure ice. The Succession had been overwhelmed, overtaken by whatever Yuuka had turned into... This was... This was way beyond what she had signed up for. It almost reminded her... No, there was no way!
"Where... Where is she..?" Hiro muttered as her face had been obscured by the ice now covering her form, all while that frozen hand of hers started to glow. "Where is she..?" Like a ghost who wasn't able to move on from her past, the only words that left her lips were dripping with regret.
Kanzei slowly spun her staff once more. This would not do. She could fight one. But two... If Hiro had turned into the same sort of monster as Yuuka, then she wasn't sure. At the very least, she could sap them of their fighting strength. "You have trespassed upon my domain. Therefore, your strength will be-"
"MAJOR METEOR!"
The golden Jõtaider didn't get to finish as Mimoto dropped in from above in her Earth Ursa form, both fists slamming against the frozen ground and sending several smaller pieces of said ground flying towards Kanzei. Essentially using her strength to replicate the projectile spam from her Blast Eagle form.
Kanzei grit her teeth underneath her helmet as her hammer rang out, turning her staff into a whip that she used to very rapidly deflect every single piece of frozen shrapnel that was flung her way. "Out of my way, Mimoto! GET OUT OF MY WAY!" She shouted, her anger rapidly rising. First PAWN, now HER?!
"I won't! I don't know what's going on here, but I gotta fix it! Now!" Mimoto cried out, her body trembling as it caught on fire. "Chou Henshin!" She shouted, shifting back to Flame Lion as her body was consumed by the flames. "Now, Tsubasa!"
The flames rose into the air above to serve as a beacon, all while a boy screamed far above. A scream that caused Kanzei to lose her concentration ever so slightly. That was all the opportunity that the boy needed, even if he was scared out of his wits thanks to how intense the wind and the snow and everything was around him.
Tsubasa didn't have time to think about what was happening. All he could do was hold Habakiri with as much will as possible, the blade catching fire as it synchronized with the fire leaking out from Mimoto. "H... HEAVENREND!" He shouted as the flames grew even brighter, breaking apart the darkness as it was like he was slashing it apart as he fell.
Kanzei's inner hammer rang out again as her whip turned into a greatsword, swinging it with all of her strength to clash against the boy falling from the sky. A blow that was easy to deflect, despite the cracks forming in the blade, because he was only carried by momentum. None of that strength was his own!
"BEGONE!" She shouted, slashing the boy off her blade. And at the same time, leaving herself just vulnerable enough that she barely had the chance to notice the light pouring out from the heroine. Only as she heard her voice out did she realize what happened...
"UNICORN ENDING!" Mimoto shouted as the light from her body fed upon the flames that had carved apart the darkness of the blizzard, turning her blade into a much larger construct that slashed through it, dispelling the weather in the process as her blade clashed Kanzei's own weapon. If she could just crack it, then..!
Kanzei let out a ferocious shout as the blade shattered... Only for her hammer to ring out twice as each individual piece turned into a floating blade that slammed against Mimoto's construct of light, giving her the moment she needed to escape. "Just this once, Mimoto! DON'T YOU THINK YOU'VE WON!" She shouted, disappearing into the darkness as it was about to vanish.
"And don't come back!" Mimoto shouted as her blade returned to normal, satisfied with her attack. Though it felt like she was forgetting something. And as she felt a shivering hand on her shoulder, it instantly made sense. Ah. Right. Kanzei hadn't been the cause of the blizzard...
Why did it feel like it was trying to tug at her, and yet it couldn't feel anything..?
Tsubasa coughed and gasped as he slowly got up, his body aching. The fall, the swing, everything just took energy out of him. It was a wonder that he hadn't passed out yet. He had to get up though. If not for Mikai and Habakiri, then for his own sake..!
"S-Senpai, look out!"
His eyes widened as he suddenly turned around thanks to Habakiri crying out to him, only to come face to face with... W-With Hiro... W-Who currently looked like a ghastly apparition that was looming over him, her hand getting closer and closer to him. A frightening sight, especially considering the first time she saved him.
"Where... Where is she..?" Hiro's voice echoed out, all while her hand glowed. She wanted something. She wanted somebody. But she couldn't find her. She looked everywhere. But she couldn't find her. Was she inside this boy..? She had to find out...
That hand crept closer, and Tsubasa couldn't stop himself from screaming as he tried to get away. But he couldn't. Hiro's hand sank into his heart, and his eyes dimmed. It felt... It felt so wrong...
Mimoto heard that scream, and she wrestled herself free from Frozen Feeling's grip. "I'm coming, Tsubasa!" She cried out, turning towards the girl that had tried to grab her. "But first, you!" She shouted, as the light from her body poured into the Unicorn Blade. "I don't know what you are, but you're causing problems! UNICORN BEGINNING!"
Frozen Feeling let out a ghastly scream as she tried to rush towards the girl, only for her body to freeze in place thanks to the light rushing forth from that blade. She tried to move, but the Light was impossible to break through. No matter how much she wanted to find her Senpai, she couldn't move. It was a frightening fate...
The Monster let out a shriek as it tried to wrestle free, but Mimoto would have none of it. She stabbed the blade into the ground below and let the light rush out from the blade into the ground below. "UNICORN ENDING!" Mimoto shouted as cracks formed in the ground, letting the light pour out in the form of beams that quickly pierced their way through the ghastly monster.
Frozen Feeling let out yet one more scream as her form was solidified back into her original self... Yuuka Shimo, the young traditional-hearted sister of Yuuki Shimo. Instead of showing any form of consciousness, she just collapsed. As if she had been pulled out of a wicked being that used her as a mere shell...
Mimoto frowned a little under that helmet. Yuuki-Senpai's little sister had been turned. She had to help comfort Yuuki-Senpai after all of this was done. But for now she turned her attention to the other apparition, light gathering in her hands as she dashed in the direction of Tsubasa's screams...
Hiro's 'body' trembled as it turned significantly more transparent. The... The one that had turned her had been defeated. Her frozen soul was cracking. But she still hadn't found her. She wasn't inside this boy. So she should make sure that she wouldn't be in there ever again...
"SENPAI!" Habakiri shouted, unable to transform back since she was currently stuck in the ground, all while she was forced to watch as Tsubasa started to freeze over bit by bit thanks to the grip Hiro had on his soul...
Right until Hiro was knocked out of the way, courtesy of Mimoto's light-filled fists. The ghastly version of Hiro let out a shriek just like Yuuka had, her transparent body having trouble keeping stable.
Tsubasa dropped to the ground, just barely caught by Mimoto before he made impact and partly shattered, all while the heroine pulled the flaming sword out of the ground and allowed her to transform back to normal, so she could take care of the boy and hug him as close to her overheating body as possible...
Mimoto took a deep breath as she faced Hiro. She trusted her to fix her. And yet... There was something about looking at her that made her heart tremble. What was with her..? What had she turned into? And why did it feel so familiar..?
"Unicorn-"
She tried to steel herself to break Hiro back to normal, but the last few snowflakes finally landed on the ground. Bringing an end to Frozen Feeling's blizzard, and with it her grip on Hiro. As a result, the skunk-haired woman finally regained her solidity, right as she collapsed on the ground as well... Though the most chilling aspect about her remained. That hand of hers was still made of ice.
Mikai's light retracted as she returned to normal, breathing a sigh of relief as she ran over to Hiro. All while quickly bringing up her bracelet. "Mimoto here, Hiro's been secured! Something happened to her, and-"
"Mikai." Qilin's voice echoed over the comms, in a tone that could hardly be called teasing. It was serious. "What color is Hiro's hand right now?"
The sandy-blonde girl blinked a little as she grabbed ahold of her partner's hand, unwrapping the bandages... And then having her eyes widen a bit as she noticed the deep black shade underneath. "Pure black, Miss Qilin." She muttered, her voice wavering. This black shade was familiar. But why? Why was it familiar..?
"...Please bring her in as soon as you can. Transform back into Mimoto if you must. She needs treatment. As quickly as possible. Because these symptoms indicate that..." She paused for a moment, clearing her throat. "That we might be on the cusp of another incident just like the Luna Descent."
The Luna Descent. Mikai had heard about that. That was... That was ten years ago. That was around the time she started to lose all the feeling inside her heart...
How was all of this connected..? And for that matter, what was going to happen to Hiro?
She didn't know. All that she knew was that she had to bring her friends back with her. Hiro, Tsubasa, and Habakiri...
---
Deep within the vestiges of Darkness itself, a soft clap echoed.
"And so the curtain rises on our return to this world..."